Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 13 of 21 categories
Carlsbad
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,832 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Goodyear
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $674k less ($396,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,477)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $36,832/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$36,832
$134,139 vs $97,307/yr
Goodyear
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Violent Crime
8% lower
182.2 vs 199.1 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$674k less
$396,100 vs $1,070,500
Goodyear
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
33.2°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $97,307 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 13 of 21 categories. Carlsbad wins 8 and Goodyear wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carlsbad to Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $396,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Goodyear, AZ are about 284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.